Sources of Work-Related Stress Among Omani Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Nurses experience high levels of stress as they deal with the patients having complex health care problems. Stress in nursing affects the practice of nursing profession worldwide. In response to this, the investigators explored the sources of work-related stress (WRS) among Omani Nurses. Samples were selected through proportionate population sampling from 5 selected tertiary care hospitals. Data were collected through self-administered nursing stress scale (NSS). The study included 383 Omani nurses. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The sources of WRS among nurses showed the percentage mean scores ranging from 8.5% to 21%. The overall mean score for the NSS was 42.85 ± 17.705. Out of 7 subscales, the highest level of WRS was on workload with a mean score of 8.99 (21%) followed by emotional issues related to death and dying 8.72 (20.4%). The lowest mean score was seen on the lack of support 3.65 (8.5%) and inadequate preparation to meet the emotional demands of patients and their families 3.86 (9%) of the total mean. WRS was associated with the nursing position as staff nurses, performing night shift and reduced job satisfaction. The study's results may help in developing human resource strategies aimed at minimizing nurses’ stress and improving quality of health care and task force performance.